Draw-bar and coupling.



P atented Jan. 28, |902.

. E. LlnnLE. DRAW BAR AND COUPLING.

(Application led Sept. 25, 1901.) Y

(No Model.)

/11 may wgsum UNITED TATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN E. LIDDLE, OF GEORGEL, VIRGINIA.

DRAW-BAR AND COIUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 692,156, dated January 28, 1902. Application led September 25,1901. Serial No. 76,562. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN E. LIDDLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Georgel, in the county of Wise, State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Draw-Bars and Couplers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to draw-bars and couplers, and is particularly intended for use in connection with mining-cars and other similar vehicles.

The invention has for an object to provide a construction of a draw-bar formed of separable sections interlocked at their point of connection andV adapted to be boltedto the iiooring of a car, so that either section may be removed or replaced without disturbing the other section.

A further object of the invention is to provide means at the coupler-heads of the bar for embracing the ends of the flooring to prevent the bar being torn away from the dooring when an upward strain is exerted thereon in the handling of the car and to obviate the use of all independent coupling devices.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved construction of a couplerhead whereby the pin is adapted to be moved therein, but held against complete removal from the head.

' Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear in the following description, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the appendedclaims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a plan of a mining-car with the invention applied thereto. through the same. Fig. 3 is a perspective of the'draw-bar and coupler withftheA sections separated, and Fig. 4 is a detail perspective of the coupler-headand pin therein.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several figuresof the drawings.

In the present application the invention is shown as applied to a mining-car, as shown at A, which is formed with side walls A and opposite end gates A2, each provided with any suitable securing means. The car-flooring is Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectionU here shown as composed of opposite planks or timbers A3, extended at each end beyond the car-body to form buffers A4, while intermediate thereof a shorter timber A5 is placed, to which the draw-bar B is secured. This draw-bar is formed in two sections B', having attheir inner ends an interlocking hooked member B2, disposed in` opposite directions on each of the sections. The opposite end of each section is provided with a couplerhead comprising an upper lip C and a lower lip C', through which the pin C2 is adapted to pass. The depending rib Bf, which connects these lips, is provided with an inwardlydisposed flange B4, adapted to embrace the end of the floor-timber A5 and also the beltiron A when the same is used. The drawbar is secured to the upper surface of the .licor-timber by any desired means-for instance, bolts B5, passed through suitable openings in the bar and door-while the couplerheads are further secured by bolts B6, passing through the parts just mentioned and also the ange B4 at the rear of the head.

` In order to prevent the loss or displacement of the coupler-pin O2 and to retain the same in constant position for use, anenlarged head C3 is formed upon the lower end of the pin and adapted to pass through an aperture C4, formed in the lower lip C' for that purpose, while the aperture in the upper lip C is of less diameter than the head C3 and only adapted to permit a free movement of the shank C5 of the pin. It will be obvious that the head C3 may be formed in any desired manner after the pin has been placed in position or before its location in the coupler-head.

The operation of the invention will be apparent from the foregoing description, and it will be seen that the interlocking connection between the sections of the bar removes the strain from the securing-bolts and transmits the same from one section to another, `as in a continuous bar, while the divided structure permits the removal of an injured section and the insertion of a new section without disturbing the remaining part of the bar. This greatly facilitates the time and expense required for repairs in this character of car. It has also been found that the upward strain upon the draw-bar frequently twists orbreaks ed the bar at one of the bolt-holes, and to pre- IOO vent this difliculty the flange B'l is provided, which embraces the end of the floor-timber, and thereby greatly strengthens the connection of the bar and also the coupler-head carried at the end thereof. This coupler-head when provided with a pin having an enlarged lower end presents a material saving in labor and expense, as the pin cannot be removed from the head, and thus lost or displaced, and is always in proper position for use when desired.

It Will be obvious that changes may be made in construction and configuration and also the size of the several parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Having described my invention and se forth its merits, what I claim is* l. A draW-bar and coupler composed of two sections disposed iu a single horizontal plane each provided at one end with interlocking hooked members one of which is offset from its section to overlap the other, and means passing through said members for securing said parts to a car structure; substantially as specified.

2. In a car structure and in combination with a Hoor-timber thereof, a draw-bar composed of independent sections having an overlapping interlocking connection at their meeting ends, coupler-heads at the Vouter ends of said section, inwardly-disposed flanges at the rear of said heads to embrace the ends of the floor-timber, and a securing-bolt passed through said interlocking connection and the floor-timber to retain the parts in position; substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN E. LlDDLE.

Witnesses:

D. E. CARICO, C. HUNEYCUTT. 

